Songs For William
Silverton, 2020
8/10
An album that was recorded in 1993, the duo of Gudmundur Bragason and Klas Qvist, i.e. Agony Street, don’t shy away from influences like Jeff Lynne, Traveling Wilburys, or any of the Fab Four on this nostalgic pop affair that sounds right at home in any decade since the ‘60s.
“Another Sleepless Night” opens the listen and is quintessential retro-pop fun, and “A Song For William” continues the fun with a sitar, plenty of grooves and a haze of psych-influenced ideas.
Deeper into the listen, “A Perfect Day For A Breakup” is a perfect setting for upbeat, jangly harmonic strumming and bright vocals, while “The Voices Inside My Head” thumps playfully and will certainly get your body moving to the lively energy and thriving melodies.
Further yet, “I’ve Heard It All Before” displays the duo’s timeless chemistry with a bit of a darker appeal that might make you dig out your Kinks records, and of the bonus tracks, the keyboard focused “Merry Christmas Anyway” emits much warmth and will be a nice addition to your mature holiday soundtrack.
Very tragically, Qvist passed away in 2021, and he left behind an exceptional body of solo work, as well as 3 Citizen K albums. A final Agony Street was nearly finished when the tragedy struck, and expect that to arrive soon, and it will undoubtedly be filled with more first rate, vintage pop and rock.
Travels well with: Brian Wilson & Van Dyke Parks- Orange Crate Art; The Kinks- Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround Part One